Were you ever looking for an excuse to drink a lot, empty a big bag of tortilla chips onto a baking sheet, blanket it all with cheese, let it get hot and gooey in the oven, and then eat it?

Yeah, me too.

Next week, you are going to do all of that. Because there's no better weeknight entertaining trick than a big mess of nachos, and there's no better excuse for a big mess of nachos and heavy drinking than Cinco de Mayo.

Of course, there are a few ways to class this up. Skip the margarita mix, and make them from scratch. Blend fresh peas into your guacamole, because it is Mayo and you can. Broil some pineapple and toss it with avocados and watercress -- you know, to justify eating all that cheese. Some roasted carrots on the side and banana coconut cake for dessert, and you have made nachos feel like a pot au feu.

Before your guests arrive: Pulse together your pea guacamole. Put it out with chips and raw vegetables. Broil the pineapple for your salad. Get your carrots steam-roasting away.

Party time: Get out a baking sheet (or two!). Put a lot of tortilla chips on it. Cover them with cheese. Put the whole mess into the oven until the cheese starts to melt. Top with pickled jalapeños and whatever else you want. Toss your salad. Drink another margarita.

When the nachos are gone: Break out the banana cake. Drink some more. Happy Cinco de Mayo!